SOUTH AFRICAN CHILD IMMUNISATION SCHEDULE
South Africa offers an extensive child immunisation program. All these vaccines are available at public clinics for free. Private clinics also offer an immunisation program, however, some fee may be involved, as not all medical aids pay for the vaccines. The private schedule offers more vaccines than state clinics and there may also be differences in schedules between private and public.
The following two tables below outline the different immunisation schedules.
Department Of Health Extended Program Of Immunisation (EPI) Schedule:
| AGE OF CHILD | VACCINATION | PROTECTS AGAINST |
| Birth | BCG Bacillus Calmette Guerin | Tuberculosis |
| OPV (0) Oral polio vaccine: OPV-Merieux/Polioral | Polio | |
| 6 weeks | OPV (1) | Polio |
| RV (1) Rotavirus vaccine: Rotarix | Rotavirus | |
| DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV (1) Hexavalent: Hexaxim | Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), polio, haemophilus influenzae type B, Hepatitis B | |
| PCV 13 (1) Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: Prevenar-13 | Pneumococcal diseases | |
| 10 weeks | DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV (2) | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae type B, Hepatitis B |
| 14 weeks | RV (2) | Rotavirus |
| DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV (3) | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae type B, Hepatitis B | |
| PCV 13 (2) | Pneumococcal diseases | |
| 6 months | Measles (1) MeasBio | Measles |
| 9 months | PCV 13 (3) | Pneumococcal diseases |
| 12 months | Measles (2) | Measles |
| 18 months | DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV (4) | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae type B, Hepatitis B |
| 6 years | Td (1) Diftavax | Tetanus, Diptheria |
| 9 years (girls only) | HPV (1) (repeat 6 months later) | Human papilloma Virus |
| HPV (2) | Human papilloma Virus | |
| 12 years | Td (2) Diftavax | Tetanus, Diptheria |
Private Practice Child Immunisation Schedule:
| AGE OF CHILD | VACCINATION | PROTECTS AGAINST |
| Birth | BCG Bacillus Calmette Guerin | Tuberculosis |
| OPV (0) Oral polio vaccine: OPV-Merieux/Polioral | Polio | |
| 6 weeks | OPV (1) | Polio |
| RV (1) Rotavirus vaccine: Rotarix/RotaTeq | Rotavirus | |
| DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV (1) Hexavalent: Hexaxim/Infanrix-Hexa | Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), polio, haemophilus influenzae type B, Hepatitis B virus | |
| PCV 13 (1) Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: Prevenar-13/Synflorix | Pneumococcal diseases | |
| 10 weeks | RV (2) | Rotavirus |
| DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV (2) | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae type B, HBV | |
| PCV 13 (2) | Pneumococcal diseases | |
| 14 weeks | RV (2) or (3) | Rotavirus |
| DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV (3) | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae type B, HBV | |
| PCV (3) | Pneumococcal diseases | |
| 6 months + | Flu Influenza vaccine | Influenza |
| 9 months | Measles (1) Rouvax
Or MMR (1) Trimovax/Priorix |
Measles
Measles, mumps, rubella |
| MCV (1) Meningococcal vaccine: Menactra | Meningococcal diseases | |
| 12 -15 months | MMR (1) or (2)
Or MMRV (1) Priorix Tetra |
Measles, mumps, rubella
Measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox |
| Varicella (1) Varilrix | Chicken pox | |
| PCV (4) | Pneumococcal disease | |
| MCV (2) | Meningococcal disease | |
| HAV (1) Hepatitis A vaccine: Avaxim 80/Havrix Junior (repeat 6 months later) | Hepatitis A virus | |
| 18 months | DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV (4) | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae type B, HBV |
| 18-21 months | HAV (2) Avaxim 80/Havrix Junior | Hepatitis A virus |
| 5-6 years
|
MMR (2) or (3)
Or MMRV (2) |
Measles, mumps, rubella
Measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox |
| Varicella (2) | Chicken pox | |
| DTaP Infanrix
Or DTaP-IPV Quadrivalent: Adacel Quadra/Boostrix Tetra |
Diptheria, tetanus, whooping cough
DTaP plus polio |
|
| 9 years + (girls & boys; 13 years) | HPV (1) Gardasil/Cervarix (girls only) (repeat 6 months later) | Human papilloma Virus |
| HPV (2) | Human papilloma Virus | |
| 12 years
|
TdaP-IPV | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio |
Download a copy of the South African Immunisation Schedule here.
RESOURCES
National Institute for Communicable Disease (2016) Vaccine Information for Parents and Caregivers. [Online] Available from: http://www.nicd.ac.za/assets/files/NICD_Vaccine_Booklet_D132_FINAL.pdf [Accessed 29 June 2018].
Netcare, (2016). Vaccine Schedules for South Africa for 2016. [Online] Available from: http://www.netcarehospitals.co.za/Portals/3/Images/Content-Images/PDF/latest-vaccine-schedule.pdf [Accessed 30 June 2018].
The National Department of Health, (2015). Vaccinator’s Manual “Immunisation That Works” Expanded Programme on Immunisation in South Africa (EPI-SA). [Online] Available from: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/assets/departments/health/vaccinators_manual_2016.pdf [Accessed 29 June 2018].
